USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1921 > Part 4
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Salaries,
$455.00
Stationery & Printing, 12.13
All Other,
66.82
533.95
Town Farm:
Warden
900.00
Labor
231.50
Groceries & Provisions
1,264.54
Dry Goods & Clothing
149.32
Repairs on Building,
30.30
Fuel and Light,
750.12
Hay & Grain,
655.63
Telephone
28.00
All Other,
489.04
4,598.45
Outside Poor:
Groceries & Provisions, 1,534.24
Coal and Wood 355.50
Medical Attendance
136.80
Cash,
837.28
State Institutions,
268.11
Rent,
338.54
Other Cities and Towns,
799.28
All Other,
177.09
$4,446.84 $9,579.24
NET COST OF CHARITIES
Paid from appropriation, $9,579.24
Paid by Warden at Town Farm
82.85
9,662.09
Less receipts of Town Farm
turned over to Town Treasurer, 1,612.70
Less receipts of Town Farm not
turned over to Town Treas., 82.85
Less reimbursements from town's
towns, cities and State,
799.28
2,494.83
Net Cost, $7,167.26
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REPORT OF WARDEN TO OVERSEERS OF POOR From January 1, 1921 to December 31, 1921
RECEIPTS:
Milk,
$1,545.70
Pigs, Beef and Produce, 94.74 Board, 7.00 1,647.44
EXPENDITURES:
Paid Town Treasurer, 1,612.70
Paid Labor and Supplies, 34.74
1,647.44
BENJAMIN FREEMAN,
Town Warden.
Bills Receivable amount to $473.65
INVENTORY TOWN FARM
Furniture, Tableware, etc.,
$795.07
Food Supplies,
450.50
Live Stock,
1,690.00
Hay, Grain, Ensilage, 1,432.50
Farm Implements,
868.85
Wood, Coal and Lumber,
495.00
$3,731.92
VALUATION OF TOWN FARM $10,275.00
The Board recommends the following appropriations for its use during the year 1922:
Support of Poor, $10,000.00
Contingent Fund, 250.00
Salaries of Board, including Clerk, 655.00
Salary of Town Physician, 50.00
P. J. FITZGERALD, DR. CHAS. GIROUX, P. H. McKELLIGOTT, Overseers of Poor.
Tax Collector's Report
ACCOUNT OF 1918
Oustanding January 1, 1921,
$195.38
Added Assessments,
18.00
Interest,
19,66
$233.04
Paid Treasurer,
185.64
Abatements,
18.14
203.78
Oustanding December 31, 1921, $29.26
ACCOUNT OF 1919
Outstanding January 1, 1921,
$796.89
Interest,
51.27
$848.16
Paid Treasurer,
625.27
Abatements,
158.49
783.76
Outstanding December 31, 1921, $64.40
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ACCOUNT OF 1920
Outstanding January 1, 1921,
$5,776.92
Interest,
124.99
$5,901.91
Paid Treasurer,
3,744.96
Abatements,
241.60
4,016.56
Outstanding December 31, 1921,
$1,885.35
ACCOUNT OF 1921
Assesor's Warrant to be collected, $233,928.98
Interest,
66.36
Abated after collection,
29.37
$234,024.71
Paid Treasurer,
219,624.05
Abatements,
278.05
219,902.10
Outstanding December 31, 1921, $14,122.61
JOHN T. BROWN, Tax Collector
Auditors' Report
Palmer, Jan. 21, 1922
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Palmer
Gentlemen :
On account of the special examination of the ac- counts which is being made by State Officials, because of the alleged shortage in the accounts of the Town Treasurer, the Auditors are unable to have access to the accounts in time to examine them in advance of the pub- lication of the annual town reports.
It would also appear that, with the thorough, expert exmination now being made, any further examination of the accounts this year would be useless. The Auditors, therefore, have no other report than the above to make.
Respectfully, ROBERT L. McDONALD, EVERETT W. CARPENTER, Auditors of Palmer.
License Commissioners' Report
Palmer, January 5th, 1922
To the Voters of the Town of Palmer: "
The Board of License Commissioners organized April 14th, 1921, electing William Burdick, Chairman and E. J. Duncan Clerk.
It was voted to have the prices of all licenses the same as in previous years.
The following licenses were granted: 2 6th class or druggist's licenses; seven common victuallers; three lodging house; six innholders ; twenty-eight Sunday.
J. COUGHLIN, WILLIAM BURDICK, E. J. DUNCAN, (Clerk)
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
For the year ending December 31, 1921
This Department has tested, sealed, corrected or con- demned the following :
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Platform Scales over 5,00 pounds,
6
7
Platform Scales under 5000 pounds,
6
82
10
Counter Scales,
8
69
5
Beam Scales,
3
7
1
Spring Balances,
14
66
10
Computing Platform Scales,
3
34
1
Computing Hanging Scales,
3
2
Slot Weighing Scales,
4
2
Prescription Scales,
3
Weights, (Avoirdupois),
7
494
Weights, (Apothecary),
27
Weights, (Metric),
15
Liquid Measures,
96
3
Oil Measuring Pumps,
6
58
8
Molasses Measuring Pumps,
7
Yard Measures,
8
1
Personal Weighing Scales,
1
2
Reweighing of Ice,
1
Reweighing of Bread,
76
Reweighing of Flour,
21
Reweighing of Dry Commodities,
31
Reweighing of Grain,
6
76
Reweighing of Vegetables,
3
Special Scale Inspection,
15
Special Pump Inspection,
9
56
1142 43
Receipts of Office, Paid Treasurer,
$108.84
Expenses of Office Supplies,
21.31
Transportation Charges,
61.50
LOUIS LEVEILLE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Report of Young Men's Library Association
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1921
To the Members of the Young Men's Library Association:
I herewith submit my eleventh annual report as Li- brarian of your Association. The report will be brief.
Circulation
The total circulation for the year has been 62,399, divided as follows: Main Library, 37,001; Three Rivers Branch, 16,97; Bondsville Branch, 4,633; Thorndike Branch, 2,114; School Deposits, 1,854.
The increase, 7,900 over that of last year is sizable. The total circulation is the largest the library has ever hhad. Such a circulation is strongly indicative of the fact that the library is being appreciated by many people.
This appreciation has grown year by year in surpris- ing fashion. As evidence of this, the circulation for past eighteen years are indisputable. They have been as fol- lows: Year of 1904, 17,076; 1905, 17,075; 1906, 16,116; 1907, 16,851; 1908, .7,131; 1909, 17,057; 1910, 18,016; 1911, 20,044; 1912, 26,007 ; 1913, 36,954; 1914, 40,002 (10 months) ; 1915, 53,662; 1916, 49,408; 1917, 47,738; 1918, 45,400; 1919, 55,472; 1920, 54,499; 1921, 62,399. With the exception of war years, when everybody had little time to read, there has been a steady increase. The growth since 1911 (at which time I became Librarian) of 42,355 is somewhat astounding-a growth of 211%. Ap- parently, the local library is fulfillinng its function as a public institution.
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Attention
The Young Men's Library Association, though in fact a private organization is, to all intents and purposes, pure- ly a public one in spirit, operation, and service. It is well for the Town that it is private; otherwise, the $50,000 that will be the Library's some day would never have been left in this manner.
The Trustees of the Library feel just as strongly their obligations as public officials as though they in fact were such. They operate the institution purely for pub- lic benefit. They operate it as best they can with the money that the Town will give. While this has been a yearly increasing amount, it is, nevertheless, an amount that will not allow any marked expansion. The increased circulation, with its attendant increased cost of operation, has demanded such an enlargement of appropriation.
The Associatiion appreciates the Town's ready re- snonse to its increased requests and feels that the town has done well. It has absolutely no fault to find. It does, nevertheless, desire to make it plain that its requests have been small in proportion to the work being done and that a continued expansion of work is indissolubly bound up with greater financial grants.
In brief, the Library can, and will, become as large or small in its service as the financial support of the Town dictates.
Individual Service Rendered
It may seem "poor taste" to comment upon one's own contribution of service ; yet "good" or "poor" it is well for the people of Palmer to know that they are receiving, absolutely without cost, a contribution of the best efforts and considerable time from the Trustees of this Associa- tion. Within my experience of nearly ten years, I know this to be a fact. These men have rendered a signal com- munity service, individually and collectively. The Town owes them unstinted appreciation.
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Statistics
The following statistics are given :
CIRCULATION
Main Library, Fiction, (Juvenile), 10,874
Main Library, Fiction (Adult), 20,471
Main Library, Non-Fiction (Juvenile), 2,049
Main Library, Non-Fiction
(Adult), 3,607
5,655 37,001
Three Rivers Branch, Fiction, 12610
Three Rivers Branch, Non-Fiction, 2,891
Three Rivers Branch, Magazines, 1,296
16,797
Bondsville Branch, 4,633
Thorndike Branch,
2,114
School Deposits,
1,854
Total,
62,399
Last Year,
54,499
Increase,
7,900
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
Books on hand, January 1, 1921,
14,500
Purchased during year,
649
Received by gift,
60
Books on hand, January 1, 1922,
15,209
Number of papers and magazines supplied,
60
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Librarian
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER
RECEIPTS
Cash on hand, December 31, 1920, $ 55.09
Fines, 141.04
Town of Palmer, appropriation, 4,200.00
DISBURSEMENTS
Miss May Robinson, Librarian, $849.96
Miss Grace Swann, assistant, 699.96
Miss Lizzie Fletcher, Three Rivers
399.96
Lewis R. Holden, Bondsville,
96.00
C. D. Holden, Bondsville, 8.00
Janitor,
208.00
Lights,
71.92
Magazines,
229.10
Books,
1,230.87
Repairs,
9.81
Fuel,
467.32
Labor,
3.00
Postage,
5.35
Cartage,
9.55
Cards,
19.10
Supplies,
15.90
$4,427.80
Balance on hand December 21, 1921, $188.24
LOUIS E. CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Town Warrant
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden, ss. Town of Palmer
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabi- tants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the Selectmen, to wit: In Pre- cinct A, at Holbrook Hall in the Holbrook Building on Main Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Recreation Building (room on the street floor) on Com- mercial Street in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at St. Stanis- laus' Hall (club room on first floor) on East Main Street in Three Rivers ; and in Precinct D, at Boston Duck Com- pany's Hall on Main Street in Bondsville, on Monday, the sixth day of February, A. D. 1922, at six-thirty o'clock ir. the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to precinct officers of the several voting pre- cincts of said town, for the following town officers, to wit: Three Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, a Tax Collector, three Auditors, five Constables, three License Commissioners, and a Tree Warden, all for the term of one year ; one mem- ber of the Board of Health (to fill a vacancy) for the term of one year ; one Assessor, one Overseer of the Poor, two members of the School Committee, one member of the Board of Health, one Cemetery Commissioner, and one Road Commissioner, all for the term of three years; also
86
to vote by ballot, which shall be "Yes" or "No," in answer to the question "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this town?"
The polls will be open at six-thirty o'clock in the fore- noon and will be closed at three-thirty o'clock in the after- noon.
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners, ir said Palmer, on Monday, the thirteenth day of Febru- ary, A. D. 1922, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the followin articles, viz.
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.
Article 3. To act on the reports of the town offi- cers.
Article 4. To raise money and make appropria- tions to defray expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the ensuing financial year, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for current expenses of the town, but not ex- ceeding in the aggregate the amount permitted by law, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof ; all debts incurred under authority of this vote to be paid from revenue of the said financial year.
Article 6. To hear and act on the reports of com- mittees.
Article 7. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 8. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting the taxes for the ensu-
87
ing year, and fix the compensation of the Collector of Taxes.
Article 9. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors.
Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the Young Men's Library Association, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 11. To see if the town will raise money to convey pupils to and from the public schools, and in- struct the School Committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise money for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 13. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.
Article 14. To see what action the town will take in respect to lighting the streets, and whether it will authorize the selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 15. To see what action the town will take ir reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees.
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the improvement of cemeteries.
Article 17. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks and curbing.
Article 18. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
Article 19. To see if the town will appropriate money for the suppression of gypsy and brown-tail moths and elm tree beetles.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for insurance and maintenance of the auto fire trucks for the ensuing year, or see what action it will take relative thereto.
88
Article 21. To see if the town will appropriate money for defraying the town's share of the support of the District Court.
Article 22. To see if the town will appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary to defray the cost of the rent, janitor service and maintenance of the town of- fices in the Holbrook Building.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to sprinkle o" spread upon its public ways, or parts thereof, water or any liquid or material suitable for laying or preventing dust and preserving the surface of such ways and for san- itary purposes, the cost thereof to be assessed upon abut- ing estates, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 24. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be paid to the Wing Memorial Hospital Association for the charitable purposes of said association in this town, or for the care and support in said hospital of persons wholly or in part unable to sup- port or care for themselves, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 25. To see if the town will make provision for reimbursing the police officers for expenses incurred in the investigation of cases and otherwise in the dis- charge of their duties.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to appro- priate the sum of $1000.00 and pay the same to the Springfield Street Railway Company under authority of Chapter 353 of the Special Acts of the year 1917 entitled "An Act to authorize the Town of Palmer to appropriate money toward the cost of a street railway bridge over Ware River."
Article 27. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to meet the town's share of the cost to the County of Hampden for providing adequate hospital care for consumptives under the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws.
89
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to help defray the cost of maintaining the district nurse.
Article 29. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $600.00 or any sum, to be expended within the town under direction of the Trusees for County Aid to Agriculture for the promotion of boys' and girls' work in agriculture, home making and country life and the improvement of agriculture and country life in the town, including acricultural demonstration work on land owned by the town, or owned by any resident of the town, in ac- cordance with the provisions of Section 45 of Chapter 120 of the General Laws.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to maintain night police in the several villages, authorize the select- men to employ and appoint in addition a chief of police, one or more day patrolmen, and to make rules and regula- tions for the government of all the police officers of the town, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 31. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way as laid out by the road commissioners as fol- lows: Beginning at a stone bound in the northwesterly line of Holbrook Street in the Depot Village of said Town of Palmer at the southeasterly corner of land of W. J. Gillis, thence N. 64 degrees 30 minutes in line with land of said Gillis about two hundred eighty (280) feet to a stone bound set in the ground at the southeasterly corner of land of Henry McGilp. The line described is the northeas- terly side line of said town way as laid out, the southwes- terly side line being parallel thereto and fifty (50) feet distant therefrom; said street to be known as Woodland Street. Said town way is laid out over land supposed to belong to the heirs of Clara B. Holbrook.
Article 32. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way as laid out by the road commissioners as fol-
90
lows : Beginning at a stone bound in the northeasterly line of North Main Street in the Depot Village of said Town of Palmer at the southeasterly corner of the home lot of Michael H. Davitt, thence N. 25 degrees 30 minutes E. in line of land of the said Davitt and continuing in the same course along land of Henry McGilp about four hundred eighty-five (485) feet to a stone bound at the northeast- erly corner of said land of Henry McGilp and in the southwesterly line of a proposed new town way. The line described is paralell with the northwesterly line of Hol- brook Street as laid out and two hundred eighty (280) feet distant northwesterly therefrom.
The line de- scribed is the northwesterly side line of said town way as laid out, the southeasterly side line being parallel there- to and fifty (50) feet distant therefrom ; said street to be known as Rockview Street. Said town way is laid out over land supposed to belong to the heirs of Clara B. Holbrook.
Article 33. To see if the town will accept and allow a town way known as School Street in the Village of Thorndike, as relocated by the road commissioners as fol- lows: Beginning at a stone bound in the southerly line of Main Street in said Village of Thorndike and at the north- west corner of the grammar school lot owned by the Town of Palmer, said bound being three and 95-100 (3.95) feet westerly from a stone bound set to mark an angle in said Main Street, thence S. 7 degrees 12 minutes W. in line of land of the Town of Palmer, Daniel J. Sullivan and Szczepan Matera three hundred forty and 5-10 (340.5) feet to a stone bound on the northerly side of High Street; the line described is the easterly line of relocation and the way as relocated is thirty-three (33) feet in width on the westerly side of the line described.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain two electric lights on Pine Street, between Holbrook and King Streets, in the Depot Village.
91
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain two electric lights on South Street in the Village of Three Rivers.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain three electric lights on North Street in the Village of Three Rivers.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain one additional electric light on Anderson Avenue in the Village of Three Rivers.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain one electric light on Summer Street in the Village of Thorndike, near the lane leading to the Maurice Lawler place, so-called.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain one additional electric light on Pleasant Street, between Thorndike and Walnut Streets in the De- pot Village.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain one electric light on Belanger Avenue in the Village of Three Rivers.
Article 41. To see if the town will install and main- tain one electric light on High Street in the Village of Thorndike at a point between the Polish Hall and the residence of Patrick Nagle.
Article 42. To see if the town will install and main- tain one electric light on Squier Street in the Depot Vil- lage near residences owned by Harry Steele, Mrs. Ida Whitcomb and Thomas Roche.
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain four electric lights on Griffin Street in the Village of Bondsville.
Article 44. To see if the toown will vote to install and maintain two electric lights on Pine Street in the Vil- lage of Bondsville, towards residence of William Lusty.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to place a four inch granite curb and cinder walk on both sides of
92
School Street in the Village of Thorndike from Main Street to High Street. ,
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to build a walk from the corner of Belanger Avenue to the corner near Monat's store, in the Village of Three Rivers.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to construct a tar walk on Pleasant Street in the Village of Three Rivers from East Main Street to a point near land of Agnes Wilson.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to build an ash walk, with curbing, on the northerly side of the road leading from Four Corners to Charles Street in the Vil- lage of Three Rivers.
Article 49. To see if the town will vote to repair present walk or rebuild walk on the easterly side of the Belchertown Road in the Village of Three Rivers to a point near the place of James Hartnett.
Article 50. To see if the town will build a walk on the southwesterly side of the Palmer Road in the Village of Three Rivers and extend the same into South Street, and lay a sewer or make other adequate provision for drainage in South Street.
Article 51. To see if the town will complete the sidewalk, with curb, on High Street in the Village of Bondsville.
Article 52. To see if the town will vote to extend the tar sidewalk on the northerly side of Main Street in the Village of Thorndike from St. Mary's Church to Four Corners.
Article 53. To see if the town will raise the side- walk on the northerly side of Park Street in the Depot Village from Pearl Street easterly to line of Kerrigan's property, and provide for adequate drainage.
Article 54. To see if the town will set or build a curb of stone or cement on the northerly side of State Street
93
in the Village of Bondsville from the corner of Main Street to a point near the driveway of St. Bartholomew's rectory.
Article 55. To see if the town will resurface Main Street in the Village of Bondsville from Spring Street to Depot Street.
Article 56. To see if the town will vote to macadam- ize or otherwise improve State Street in the Village of Bondsville from the Catholic Church to Pleasant Street.
Article 57. To see if the town will vote to improve the street leading to the Advent campground in the Depot Village.
Article 58. To see if the town will vote to repair with gravel, or resurface with trap rock, the gravel roads between Thorndike and Three Rivers and between Three Rivers and Palmer.
Article 59. To see if the town will vote to further improve the road leading from the Booston Road to the Rogers Bridge near West Brimfield.
Article 60. To see if the town will intruct the se- lectmen to petition the County Commissioners to relocate that part of the highway lying between Palmer and Mon- son known as the Fay Bridge and the approach thereto, as per plans prepared by W. H. and H. W. Brainerd of Palmer, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 61. To see if the town will vote to complete the gravelling of the road from Four Corners to the Bur- leigh place, so-called, a distance of approximately 2100 feet.
Article 62. To see if the town will build a cement wall in front of St. Bartholomew's rectory on State Street in the Village of Bondsville.
Article 63. To see if the town will vote to enlarge the present sewer or build an additional sewer to take care of the surface water on Converse Street in the De- pot Village.
94
Article 64. To see if the town will extend the Hol- brook Street sewer through Pine Street to King Street in the Depot Village.
Article 65. To see if the town will vote to extend the Commercial Street sewer, now ending at the junction of Commercial Street and High Street, in the Village of Thorndike, a distance of about 350 feet on High Street.
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